Process of treating skins.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR GRANVILLE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE FUR-WOOL COMPANY- LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A CORPORATION.

PROCESS TREATING SKINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed July 25, 1906. Serial No. 327,780.

i by declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relatesto the obtainment of a new kind I of fur from lamb and such like skins, as hereafter described. 1 have discovered that such skins have two layers of wool upon them the second layer lying closeto the skin; and is covered by the other layer so that it is not seen. This under layer is of much finer character than the outer layer and has a tendency to curl close to the skin. The way in which skins are now dressed spoils this natural tendency to curl and frequently destroys the curl altogether, causing the wool to draw out straight similar to theoutside layer so that the two mix andin the cutting off of the outside layer a portion of the under layer is cut away and but little curl is left upon the skin. The way I have discovered for dressing skins does not spoil the curl of the under wool, and by special attention to the cutting 1 can take-off only the outside layer of wool leaving'the curly wool upon the skin. By this means obtain a novel fur of high commercial value.

My process for dressing skins is as iollows.l take suitable raw skins as imported or otherwise obtained, and soak them in cold water for about tenhours and after allowing them to drain, rinse them in clean cold water. I then immerse them in dilute hydrochloric acid, say five per cent of acid to water by weight, and agitate them in, this solution for from two to three hours the more they are agitated in the solution the less time this operation need last;' 'the skins are then removed and left to drain and continually well shaken during the draining, they are then to be wellrinsed in cold water slightly alkaline, say by having di ssolved in it about three per cent by weight to the water of borax, oi about two per ccntof potash. the boron being pre ferred. The skins are then removed from this solution and well shaken and afterwards scoured cold to cleanse the wool, after which they are tanned, and dyed in the usual way. After being well dried the skins are ready for the cutting off of the outer layer of wool according to this invention.

In carrying out the operation of cutting off the outer layer of wool shearing combs are used. Several of these combs are necessary to be available with different thicknesses of comb, the thickness of the comb being for keeping the cutting edge above the curl. The proper thickness of comb to be used for different skins,

will only be ascertained by the examination of the wool of each skin by the operator, as in some skins the curly part is thicker than in other skins. Skins which have not been dressed in the above manner can have the outer layer of wool cut off as described but the fur soob- I tained has not so good an appearance as when the skin is first dressed as described.

Other means than shearing combs may be used to cut off the outside layer of wool, such for example, as the shaving means used in the manuiacture of velvet.

Having now described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is.-

1..lhe process of treating skins, which consists in soaking" them, treating them with a dilute acid solution, andthen a dilute alkaline solution; securing and tanning them. nnd'iinally cutting; stantiz llly as described.

2. The process of treating skins, which consists in soaking them in water. treating them with an acid solutien. treating them with an alkaline solution, scouring them, tanning and drying them; and finillycutting' off the outer layer of wool. the whole lreatment'hcing conducted in the cold. l

In testimony whereof l have ufl'ixed my signature,in

presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR GRANVILLE.

Witnesses Enimmuc l'lllNCF, II. D. JAMESUX.

off the outer layer of wool, sub-v 7O 

